State of Sikongo police station saddens minister

Gender and Child Development deputy minister Josephine Limata has expressed concern at the dilapidated state of Zambia Police Service infrastructure in Sikongo district in the western province.

Mrs Limataa condemned the state of infrastructure in which the police officers at Sikongo Police Station were operating.

Mrs. Limata described the state of infrastructure as leaving much to be desired.

She said urgent measures need to be enforced as the situation was a matter of emergency.

Sikongo is one of the newly created districts in the western province which the deputy minister toured during her recent visit to the area.

Mrs. Limata who was in Sikongo district to meet women clubs to discuss issues of women empowerment that Government is implementing took time to visit the police station and the camp houses..

She told ZANIS in an interview that although the department falls under another ministry, it was her obligation to also tour the station and see for herself how officers were serving the people and conditions under which they operate.

Mrs. Limata said she will bring the issue to the attention of Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu so that appropriate action could be taken to address the situation.

The deputy minister said the issue needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency saying government will not allow a situation where officers live and operate in a hazardous environment.

Mrs Limata however commended the police officers at Sikongo police station for working hard despite the circumstances in which they were operating.

She said the determination and zeal the police officers had shown towards work should be emulated by other civil servants in the country.

And Sikongo Police Station Assistant Superintendent Godfrey Sovi disclosed that crime in the area which was previously quite rife has been drastically reduced.

Mr. Sovi said the police officers at the station were committed and ready to serve the community within the available resources despite the challenges they were facing.